The goal of this protocol is to assay for defects in synthesis/secretion/release of seed coat mucilage by ruthenium red staining of mature whole seeds.

The mucilage secretory cells of the Arabidopsis seed coat synthesize and secrete a large quantity of primarily pectinaceous mucilage to a ring-shaped apical domain during their differentiation. This makes them an excellent model system to identify genes involved in both cell wall synthesis and secretion (et al., 2000). When wild-type seeds are incubated in ruthenium red stain, hydrated mucilage is extruded from epidermal cells and a ‘halo’ of red-stained mucilage is observed surrounding the seed (Western et al., 2000). Reduced mucilage staining may result from defects in cell wall biosynthesis, secretion, or impaired release upon hydration.

Arabidopsis (拟南芥)

Seed coat (种子大衣)

Mucilage (粘液)

Ruthenium red (钌红)

Pectin (果胶)